Was the decision to stick with solder-less protoboard for the final version intentional? Why not move to a soldered board once the layout was set?

AlanWatts
—
2014-05-27T15:07:20Z —
#3

I'd like to eventually solder all the components, but I only had about 6 weeks to build the entire device. Kind of a cram fest

Erik_Denning
—
2014-05-27T15:22:05Z —
#4

I can't fully express how much I envy you. I wish I could build things, let alone have tools. I don't have the time, resources, or mental capacity to make something so beautiful and I don't have the maturity to not let it eat away at me.

AlanWatts
—
2014-05-27T15:50:56Z —
#5

Thanks Erik. Find what you love to do and pour your heart into it, something will stick

ChickieD
—
2014-05-27T16:02:57Z —
#6

This is so weird. I just had a dream where I met or knew the person who did the voiceover for an Alan Watts youtube video. But I knew in my dream that Alan Watts, Zen master, was dead. So it made no sense that he'd be making a video now. Now I see this post. Which I love - love the wormhole effect and a nicely crafted project. Must have seen the post earlier and somehow the name stuck in my subconscious craw and I dreamed about it.

This is a wonderful use of spare time. Every living room needs a wormhole in it!

I like how you discovered the wonderful 595 shift register/driver chip to make the LEDs do your bidding, and how the state machines are nested, and the lovely steel flanges from McMaster-Carr, and the sloped panels... everything about it is joyous.

dobby
—
2014-05-27T18:20:21Z —
#9

This is a really cool watchamacallit, it is great that it is on display so a good number will have the chance to experience it for the first time.I have built a good number of radio and other electronic gadgets and they always look like Gilligan and the professor cobbled something out of junk and a coconut.At least once I got a 3D printer case design became an exercise in CAD rather than frustration.

Trey_Cozic
—
2014-05-27T19:01:57Z —
#10

Alan, this s really neat! But have you considered adding a tilt to the back mirror controlled by a couple of servos? that might let you bend the wormhole instead of having it statically bend to the left.

nixiebunny
—
2014-05-27T19:29:43Z —
#11

That was also my one thought for improvement when watching the video. It would not be easy, but it would be worth it.

euansmith
—
2014-05-27T19:46:51Z —
#12

Does it come with an Interociter?

MrTrouserPress
—
2014-05-27T21:04:16Z —
#13

Any chance of some sort of rough circuit designs? would love to spend some time working on a project like this!

willmb28
—
2014-05-27T21:17:27Z —
#14

Would be great to see a video with a moving camera so that we can really get an idea of the false depth you're getting with the infinity mirror. Awesome project btw! Most technology you see in sci-fi these days looks like it's been developed in the apple style factory for year. This straight out of the lab look is sooo much cooler... presumably there's a flux capacitor in there somewhere

danegeld
—
2014-05-28T00:01:11Z —
#15

Pretty awesome!

broderick1
—
2014-05-28T00:39:19Z —
#16

I don't suppose you could share more info on the buttons? I am looking for those style buttons for my Kerbal Space Program control board.

pjcamp
—
2014-05-28T01:18:15Z —
#17

So a wormhole is a lot like a 70's disco? Only faster than the speed of SOUND!!

AlanWatts
—
2014-05-28T01:51:22Z —
#18

Yes! I really wanted to have the back plane independently controllable, but the time constraints were just too restrictive. Version 2.0

danegeld
—
2014-05-28T03:06:25Z —
#19

What was it in aid of? What was the time constraint? is it a present or a prop for something?

AlanWatts
—
2014-05-28T03:23:24Z —
#20

Completely useless piece of art I wanted to complete it for a SXSW event in March where it premiered and was originally spotted by BoingBoingers.